"In a section on his website, he supported parents and teachers who do not want children to be taught about homosexuality and churches who do not want to employ gay people. David Cameron moved quickly to suspend him, with the Scottish Conservative Party branding the comments 'deeply offensive and unacceptable'...In the offending article, which was removed from his website on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Lardner said he supported homosexual rights to live the lives they want in private.
'But I will not accept that their behaviour is 'normal' or encourage children to indulge in it,' he continued. Mr Lardner then launched a lengthy defence of Section 28, which banned local authorities from portraying homosexuality in a positive light but was later repealed.
Defending the legislation, he said: 'Toleration and understanding is one thing, but state-promotion of homosexuality is quite another. Christians (and most of the population) believe homosexuality to be somewhere between 'unfortunate' and simply 'wrong' and they should not be penalised for politely saying so – good manners count too, of course.”

Cameron praised his own haste in reacting to the situation: “I couldn't have acted quicker – decisive action in minutes of finding out about this.”

Cameron may well have acted quickly but it doesn't hide the fact that, in his party, there is a sizable proportion who are homophobic and not only support these sort of comments but would say a lot worse.

It is still the 'nasty party' and there's every sign that the right-wing would make some sort of take-over if they got into power.

Posted by: dreamfish | Apr 28, 2010 10:10:17 AM

And yet Stephen Parkinson, PPC for Newcastle-upon-Tyne North remains.

The one who opposes gay adoptions, defended Section 28, and is against civil partnerships.

"Marriage is, quite blatantly, a heterosexual institution. Why are gay men and women trying to assimilate themselves into straight society?"

Where's the quick action from Cameron there?

Posted by: Michael Carré | Apr 28, 2010 12:23:56 PM

Don't candidates get to stand on their own in Britain? I guess they don't have primaries.

Posted by: anon | Apr 28, 2010 1:48:21 PM

If only our conservative party were so nice to us. On the other hand, having them as redical and hateful as they are makes them easier to defeat.

Posted by: ravewulf | Apr 28, 2010 3:26:43 PM

I wouldn't vote Tory, but I think Cameron is good. It's important for some Tories to be like that, so that they can change the party gradually. Too bad 80% of party members and representatives are actual homophobes. But it's great that (at least on the programs) there's consensus politically speaking. It means no one has to fight anymore. Finland has reached that place too.

For the US, it's going to take a long, long, long time. If it ever happens, since the US don't even have a SINGLE party FOR gay rights, let alone both...